Lancaster ND757 at Lindholme airfield.
At 11.35hrs on 15th January 1945 the crew of this 1656 Heavy Conversion Unit aircraft took off from Lindholme airfield to undertake a cross country training flight. On their return to base they landed at 16.25hrs but their speed was too fast, the aircraft overshot the end of the runway and ran into the overshoot area. The undercarriage collapsed before it came to a halt and it was badly damaged. An investigation into how the accident occurred ruled that the pilot should not have been sent on the exercise as a solo pilot as he had a mere six hours flying the Lancaster to his name at that point. A total of nine aircrew were on board at the time of this incident but only the pilot's name is confirmed. He and his crew were killed three weeks later on 6th February 1945 when Lancaster LM175 did not return from a training exercise and was believed lost at sea, I presume some or all were with him at the time of this earlier mishap.
Pilot - F/Sgt Robert Erksine Plante RAAF (8651)
Crew possibly some of the following..
Sgt Eric Smails RAFVR (2219167).
F/Sgt Layton Challander Barrett RAAF (428116).
Sgt John Mackie RAFVR (1571947)
Sgt Jack Edward Ralph RAFVR (1867776).
Sgt Alister George Ross MacFarlane RAFVR (1894129).
Sgt Ronald Harold Howard Side RAFVR (1629469).
Plus two aircrew - Names unknown.